April 24 - Massachusetts

Boxes. I empty them, fold them up for trash pickup, and slide more down. Thought I only had 3 more kitchen boxes. Ha! Double that. Take a look!

Kitchen boxes

My most awesome brother came over on Sunday. Went grocery shopping - we usually go on Saturday but he had to take a friend into the airport. I was feeling a bit overwhelmed by the boxes. As mentioned, this has been a tough move-in for me.

He rearranged a lot of boxes for me, got them in their proper order, and all is feeling much better in my world as a result. Makes it much easier on the unpack. I was feeling verklemptelated by last Saturday. No longer thanks to my brother's much valued assistance :)

Before

After

Still ruthlessly purging. It actually feels pretty good - lighten the load. No I am not a "tiny house" candidate! I do need and want my space :)

My brother also hooked up my rainhead shower assembly for me; THAT feels good :) Opened some of the unmarked boxes the other day and found my towels. Yay! Also found a bunch of Christmas decor that can be put away, and have started a box for donations of the nicer items I have and no longer need.

I can see the light at the end, and it is all good. A few boxes I have come across will require replacement furniture (wine glasses, things like that). Much of my nicer pieces of furniture did not make it through the fire.

They will have to wait, along with my books now neatly stacked against the wall :)

My books

April 21 - Massachusetts

STILL moving in!

Good afternoon! Still pecking away at boxes. I think I am almost at the end of kitchen items - at least what was marked. I have come across some very oddly marked boxes; one says "Family Rm Mix & Match". I am a little afraid to open that one yet! I have come across more than a few that are not marked at all; who knows? I may open a few tonight just out of curiosity.

Just to give you an idea of what I am dealing with in regard to the packing material thus far, I took a few pix. While I certainly appreciate fragile itmes were wrapped so well, the Tupperware containers and metal baking items - not so much.

Unpacked box (pans)

Another unpacked box

It has been challenging finding space for everything. I have always had a separate cabinet for my "dry goods", but the cabinet did not make it through the fire. Food takes up a lot of room! I have been absolutely ruthless going through items and tossing what I do not need or will not use.

I had wanted to have the kitchen done this week, but some boxes were buried under others, and it has been slow going. Unpack 2 boxes' contents onto the counter, wash, put away. Repeat.

As far as I am aware, I only have 3 more kitchen boxes. Still in search of my everyday plates, but I think I know where they are (finally). I have been making do with paper plates, but it would be nice to eat a real meal on a real plate!

Here are a few pix of what I have accomplished.

Glasses, coffee cups & cat food

Very blurry pic of dishes

Food!

I would like to cook some actual real food for a change! I have been making do with leftovers from going out and microwave dinners. Getting rather tired of them, and they are not good as a steady diet. I plan to be cooking my own food once again in a few days :)

Get back on my normal schedule. Laundry is all caught up; have not located my box of towels yet. Although I did take enough up to Maine with me that I can make do for a few weeks (had the presence of mind to pack towels at least).

I did order a dresser that fits the footprint I have, and I quite like it! Need that in order to make a lot more headway in the bedroom, which is my next big project. Temps are supposed to shoot up next week, and I have yet to locate the box containing all my decent T-shirts. Here is a picture from the website.

Dresser I ordered, sans mirror

I am also the proud owner of what I think is the world's largest refigerator. It has the freezer on the bottom, and large items (containers of 1/2 and 1/2 etc.) go on the door of the fridge. I am still getting used to it and not 100% sure I am in love with it it. One could fit a body in this sucker!

Fridge

It beeps if the doors are open too long; annoying but useful. Figure this thing could hold more than one Thanksgiving turkey!!

Did not do much yesterday. Aches and pains caught up with me, and I cannot push it. I need to function :) Caught up on paperwork instead (and washed some dishes!).

And my silverware is all sorted out neatly :)

Silverware

More silverware

Stay tuned!

April 14 - Massachusetts

Still Moving In...

My sister came over last night to see my place, and she liked it :) We had a drink, then went out for dinner at a local pub-type place. The food was good (huge portions!), and the company was even better :) I have missed her the past few weeks. That did not surprise me; I mentioned our relationship has evolved over the winter. We will make it a point to get more "sister" time in.

It has really been a tough move-in for me this time. As mentioned, I did not do the packing. Even the boxes I packed in Maine ended up in odd rooms. Nothing is marked except the room it came from, which makes it very difficult on the unpacking end. Nothing is in order. There are boxes marked "Kitchen - Fragile", but contain vases and decor. Not exactly what I am looking to put away immediately (plates, dishes, ya know).

Nothing was cleaned or washed from the fire, and without a dishwasher it is me cleaning and washing. Washed a lot of things Tuesday evening, and again yesterday morning. Then I felt ill, had a hard time breathing, and had to lie down for a good part of the day.

So basically a few boxes a day is about all I can handle. Bathrooms are done :) Got a good start on the  bedroom; in desperate need of a second bureau.

So I have managed to make enough inroads :) My smaller space and need to downsize has made me pretty ruthless. And yeah, I admit, I want room for the boxes of books which will come at the tail end.

Got out today for a much-needed haircut. I had an appointment made for a few days after the fire. That never happened. Although I was desperate in Maine over the winter to get it done, I could not find a place that suited. The few local places I checked out  (besides being almost twice as expensive as here) were churning out women with the - exact - same - haircut. Um no, not ready for Stepford Wives! Sara always does an awesome job on my hair, and today was no exception!

I have growing piles of empty boxes on my porch, which pleases me. I cannot move many of the boxes in here myself without unpacking them, so it is limiting. I am fully aware this is all on me, and am doing the best I can. Just wish they would go away faster!

The place is a mess, and the boxes seem endless. However, I do know where things will go.

And - I found my silverware the other night. Big yay!!